title: Effect of occupation on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in coal-fired thermal plant workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Air pollution from coal-fired power units is large and varied, and contributes to a significant number of negative environmental and health effects. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of coal dust-induced toxicity in coal-fired power plants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to measure free radical damage and the antioxidant activity in workers exposed to varying levels of coal dust.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of workers in coal handling unit, turbine unit, and boiler unit (n = 50 each), working in thermal power plant; and electricians (n = 50) from same department were taken as controls. Lipid peroxidation was measured by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and antioxidant activity was determined by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels. Statistical analysis was carried out by Student's unpaired t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MDA levels showed significant increase (P > 0.001) in the thermal power plant workers than the electricians working in the city. The levels of SOD and GPx were significantly higher (P > 0.001) in electricians as compared to subjects working in thermal plant. Among the thermal plant workers, the coal handling unit workers showed significant increase (P > 0.001) in MDA and significant decrease in SOD and GPx than the workers of boiler and turbine unit workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oxidative stress due to increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in antioxidant activity results from exposure to coal dust and coal combustion products during thermal plant activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Manmeet Singh
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Kapil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Kc
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manchanda
keywords: Glutathione peroxidase; lipid peroxidation; malondialdehyde; superoxide dismutase